Upgrade advice, please.


I'd appreciate some input/guidance/opinion about the most cost-effective upgrade move to make - amplification or speakers? Major components of my system are posted (I also have some rudimentary room treatments in place not shown in my system post). After playing around for years with placement of my Totem Forests I feel like I've finally found something that really sounds good Most of the time I'm very happy with the sound whether running a factory modified JoLida 502B (Winged C KT88s; Mullard AT7s; Ei Elite AX7s) or a JAS H-1 hybrid (ss pre; Winged C EL34 tubes) so possibly I shouldn't do anything at all. My budget is $3000 at most. Used is OK. My listening area is smallish...an open ended alcove roughly 13' x 15'. Should I upgrade amplification? I'd like any upgrade here to be all tubes. Change speakers? Do nothing? My goals are more volume (getting to 85 - 90 db without things sounding strained), deeper and better controlled bass, higher resolution. Thanks in advance for your time and input.
ghosthouse

Showing 1 response by mmike84

Your speakers recommend a minimum of 120 WPC which suggests to me they were not designed around sounding their best with tubes. If in fact you need more power which sounds likely, your budget will not allow you to buy the proper tube amp. So if you want to keep the speakers I think you're stuck w/ SS designs. If you want to use tubes you should explore more efficient speakers.